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Vitamin D3 might improve headache characteristics and protect against inflammation in migraine: a randomized clinical trial

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Abstract

Introduction

Due to anti-inflammatory effects of vitamin D3, we aimed to explore the effects of supplementation with this vitamin on headache characteristics and serum levels of pro/anti-inflammatory markers in migraineurs.

Methods and materials

This placebo-controlled, double-blind study included 80 episodic migraineurs who randomly assigned into two equal groups to receive either daily dose of vitamin D3 2000 IU (50 μg) or placebo for 12 weeks. At baseline and after the trial, headache characteristics were determined using diaries and serum levels of interleukin (IL)-10, IL-6, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and cyclooxygenase-2 (Cox-2) were assessed via ELISA method.

Results

At the end of trial, analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) adjusted for baseline values, and confounders revealed that vitamin D3 supplemented group experienced significantly lower headache days per month (4.71), reduced attacks duration (12.99 h/attack), less severe headaches (5.47, visual analog scale), and lower analgesics use/month (2.85) than placebo group (6.43, 18.32, 6.38 and 4.87, respectively) (P values < 0.05). Using ANCOVA adjusted for baseline levels and confounding variables, it was found that serum levels of IL-10 and Cox-2 did not significantly differ between groups after the experiment; whereas, iNOS serum level was significantly reduced in the intervention group (106.06 U/L) comparing to the controls (156.18 U/L P : 0.001). Also, the patients receiving vitamin D3 yielded a marginally significant lower IL-6 serum concentration (76.43 ng/L) compared to placebo (93.10 ng/L) (P value:0.055).

Conclusion

Based on the results of this study, we found that 2000 IU (50 μg)/day vitamin D3 supplementation for 12 weeks could improve headache characteristics and might reduce neuro-inflammation in episodic migraine.

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Funding

This research has been supported by Tehran University of Medical Sciences & health Services grant 96-04-161-37647 and 96-04-54-36870.

Author information

Author notes

  1. Zeinab Ghorbani and Mansoureh Togha contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Cellular and Molecular Nutrition, School of Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Zeinab Ghorbani, Mahmoud Djalali, Fahimeh Martami, Mahnaz Zareei & Maryam Mahmoudi

  2. Headache Department, Iranian Center of Neurological Research, Neuroscience Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Mansoureh Togha

  3. Headache Department, Neurology Ward, Sina University Hospital, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Mansoureh Togha

  4. Student Research Committee, (Department and Faculty of Nutrition Sciences and Food Technology), Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Pegah Rafiee

  5. Department of Nutrition, School of Health, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Zeynab Sadat Ahmadi

  6. Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Science & Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

    Reyhaneh Rasekh Magham

  7. Nutrition and Endocrine Research Center, Research Institute for Endocrine Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Sahar Shahemi

  8. Department of Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Nutrition and Food Technology, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Sahar Shahemi, Soodeh Razeghi Jahromi & Shadi Ariyanfar

  9. Pediatric Gastroenterology and Hepatology Research Center, Children’s Medical Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Maryam Mahmoudi

  10. Dietitians and Nutrition Experts Team (DiNET), Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN)Tehran, Tehran, Iran

    Maryam Mahmoudi

Authors
  1. Zeinab Ghorbani
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  2. Mansoureh Togha
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  3. Pegah Rafiee
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  4. Zeynab Sadat Ahmadi
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  5. Reyhaneh Rasekh Magham
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  7. Sahar Shahemi
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  12. Maryam Mahmoudi
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Maryam Mahmoudi.

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Compliance with ethical standards

The study protocol was reviewed and approved by ethics committee of vice-chancellor in research affairs, Tehran University of Medical Sciences (ethics code: IR.TUMS.VCR.REC.1397.170). Before undergoing any study procedure, all patients gave written informed consent.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Ghorbani, Z., Togha, M., Rafiee, P. et al. Vitamin D3 might improve headache characteristics and protect against inflammation in migraine: a randomized clinical trial. Neurol Sci 41, 1183–1192 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-019-04220-8

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